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Saturday July 19, 2008

PENNY PRIDDY – REAL FRIEND OF INDO-CANADIAN COMMUNITY – ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM POLITICS

By Rattan Mall

It’s easy for anyone of any political party to support the Indo-Canadian community nowadays. But there was a time not too long ago when it took real guts to do so – and that is when Penny Priddy stood firmly by us, whether it was the turban-wearing controversy at the Royal Canadian Legion or the teaching of the Punjabi language in Surrey schools or any other issue that affected our community.

So it was sad to learn that Penny, who is currently the NDP MP for Surrey North, will be retiring from politics, though she told The VOICE: “I am not going to walk away from this community.” She pointed out: “This community opened its hands and welcomed me.” Penny will remain MP until the next federal election.

Penny, who wrote several exclusive articles for The VOICE over the years, entered politics at the age of 42 following careers as a nurse, a college instructor, and a CEO of a non-profit organization in Nova Scotia. She won all the six elections she ran in – from the school board and civic levels to the provincial and federal levels. And she is the only woman in Canada to ever been elected to every political office available, including Surrey School Board, Surrey City Council, the BC Provincial Legislature (she held six different portfolios as minister from 1991 to 2000 as the MLA for Surrey-Newton) and the House of Commons.

Penny said she “had been harmonizing my work and my family,” but now “family trumps politics.” Her husband of 43 years, Robert, retired two years ago and they are both in “great health.” Their two children are doing “real well” and a third grandchild is on the way and she would now like to support them because they’ve been “incredibly” supportive to her all these years in politics.

A classy and gutsy politician enjoying wide support from every segment of society, Priddy won as MP from the Surrey-North riding (that used to be the riding of the late Chuck Cadman and is not a typical NDP riding). She said: “I think it’s in a very strong position to continue to be an NDP riding.”

She had been discussing about her departure from the political scene for the past few months with federal NDP Leader Jack Layton – and they’ve also discussed “a couple of names” of possible candidates. Once these names have been approved by a search committee, there will be the usual election for the nomination. Layton does not believe in parachuting anyone into a riding the way the Liberals and the Conservatives do.

Asked whether she would take up a part-time assignment such as an instructor at some university after quitting politics – probably after a spring election next year – Penny replied: “Until this election is over, I am not even going to think about it.”

She said there were many possibilities out there, but her job was to get someone elected first.

In an article in The VOICE back in 2006, Priddy mentioned a slew of things she was involved with in our community.

Here are some excerpts:

“When I was first elected to the Surrey School Board in 1986, I had been living in BC for just five years. I did not know many people and I certainly had little knowledge of South Asian religions, languages and traditions. As I began to meet more people from the community, I came to understand how important it was to have the Punjabi language taught in the schools. In my second term on School Board, with the support of many Punjabi writers and teachers, the Board passed a motion recommending that the study and learning of Punjabi be made be made available in Surrey schools. Although this initiative has had its challenges, there has been great progress.

“ … In 1991, when I ran for election as the MLA for Surrey-Newton, my relations with the South Asian Community became more intermingled. My friends in the community helped me to begin leaning some Punjabi and Hindi, how to shop for clothes, gave me books to read about their history and traditions, and welcomed me into their homes and extended families. They taught me about the one hundred years of Sikh history in BC, of which I had no knowledge. As an MLA, this information helped me to understand the many contributions that Sikhs and Hindus had made in the early years of our province’s growth. The more I learned, the closer I became bound to the community. Having all of this knowledge enabled me, together with my colleague Bruce Ralston, to know that we had to walk out of the Canadian Legion when Sikh veterans were refused entry because they were wearing their turbans. These men had worn their uniforms with pride as they had done when fighting side-by-side with the British during World War II.

“ … In the early 1990’s, in particular, we were seeing an increase in racism in the schools. We all worked together, the community, the schools, students, teachers and government to create some of the most recognized anti-racism programs in the country. Without the advice of South Asian students, and concerned community people, we would never have been able to accomplish this. And the rope that joined and bound us together grew stronger.

“During these times I was learning a very important lesson. Relationships and loyalty mean something very, very special in the South Asian community. When my father died, and I developed breast cancer in 1996, the community opened its arms and hearts to my family. Calls were made, get-well notes were written and prayers were offered. When I became a first-time naniji in 1995, other nanajis offered advice and celebrated this important milestone with me.”

“ … When I entered municipal politics in 2002 as an independent candidate, I visited many people to talk about municipal issues of concern for South Asians. We talked of the many new businesses opening, about development and how it was taking place. Over those three years sometimes we agreed, sometimes not, but always with respect and after listening to each side of the issue.

“ … When I gave my first speech in the House of Commons, I spoke of the need to address credentialing in a much more vigorous and streamlined way. We are wasting the knowledge and talents of physicians, teachers, skilled trade’s people, etc. We cannot fill the vacancies and they cannot have their credentials recognized.

“I spoke of the need to recognize pensions for seniors from India who, although they are citizens, are not from one of the many countries that have treaties with Canada. Even though India is a Commonwealth country, these seniors must wait 10 years for their pensions.”

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